Village gets its 'T' back after battle

A VILLAGE split down the middle over the spelling of its ancient name has finally found peace - by agreeing to add an extra "t".

Warring factions have argued whether the country village should be Llansanffraid or Llansantffraid [WALES NEWS SERVICE]

Warring factions have argued for years over whether the pretty country village should be called Llansanffraid or Llansantffraid - translated into Welsh for "Church of Saint Bride".

Road signs have been defaced as the storm over the spelling flared with the "pro-T" group add the letter to signs with paint or stickers while the "anti-Ts" scrub it out.

But leaders in the village near Welshpool, Powys, have voted to add the "t" after a straw poll was carried out among villagers.

Common sense has finally prevailed

Montgomeryshire MP Glyn Davies

Seventy people wanted it changed back to the Victorian name with a "t" with just three against. Historians said the name was orginally the full Welsh name of Llansanffraid-ym-Mechain in honour of the Celtic Saint Brigit. She was a goddess of healing who was worshipped by poets - because one side of her face was ugly while the other was beautiful.

But it was changed by mistake in the mid-1800s to Llansantffraid which wrongly describes her as a man.

It then stayed that way for more than 150 years as generations grew up with the extra "t" in the village, population 1,100.

But it was then changed by chiefs at Powys County council who dropped the consonant in 2008.

The village has been divided over the spelling of its name [WALES NEWS SEVICE]

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Council bosses claimed they were correcting a mistake to ensure the Saint was recognised as a woman. But the lost letter sparked a row with many villagers insisting the T should be restored Postmistress Sian Sanderson, 24, said: "It might seem laughable to people from outside - but it is deadly serious to us and has aroused a lot of emotions.

"The sides for and against have been defacing signs in the village and people feel that has got to stop." Her post office receipts have until now been spelt Llansanffraid.

But the community hall, town hall, war memorial, football club and bowls club all spell it with a "T". Now Powys council's cabinet executive have decided on the "t" will return to the village's name.